Blaze Bernstein (19) was a pre-medical student at University of Pennsylvania when he disappeared in Lake Forest, California on January 2nd, 2018.
At the time of his disappearance, Blaze was on winter break and was in his hometown in Orange County, California. On the evening of his disappearance, Blaze was picked up from his parents’ house by Samuel Woodward (then 20), an acquaintance Blaze knew from high school. He never returned home that night, and his parents reported him missing after he failed to show up for a dental appointment the following day.
When investigators questioned Woodward, he told them that after he picked up Blaze, he drove the two of them to a nearby Hobby Lobby parking lot to “catch up.” Later, the two of them drove to Borrego Park. Woodward told police that Blaze got out of the car at the park and never returned. He said he waited for Blaze for an hour before driving to his girlfriend’s house.
Police immediately noticed several inconsistencies in Woodward’s story. When questioned about his girlfriend, Woodward apparently could not remember her last name or where she lived—despite the fact that he told police that he went to her house after Blaze’s disappearance. Additionally, Woodward had abrasions on his arms, which he blamed on being in a fight club.
On January 9th, 2018, Blaze’s body was found in Borrego Park. He had been stabbed to death. Just a few days later, Woodward was arrested for Blaze’s murder. The arrest came after investigators found DNA evidence that linked him to the crime scene. In fact, certain evidence they found made investigators believe that Woodward had returned to the crime scene days after the murder as well.
While investigating the nature of Blaze and Woodward’s relationship, it was revealed that the two were not close friends in high school. They weren’t reportedly enemies either; they just simply didn’t run in the same social circles. However, police found text messages that Blaze sent to two different female friends in June of 2017 that indicated that Woodward had hit on him. Blaze, who was openly gay, seemed happy about this interaction.
If Woodward had actually hit on Blaze, investigators found this interesting—because Woodward told had previously investigators that Blaze had kissed him on the lips as they sat in the car on the evening of January 2nd, 2018, and that the kiss was unwanted. Woodward told investigators that he pushed him away and called him derogatory names after that.
After investigating Woodward’s background, police found that he was a member of a Neo-Nazi group called the Attomwaffen Division. The group is described as “relatively small, but incredibly anti-Semitic and hateful.” Noting that Blaze was both gay and Jewish, Woodward was charged with a hate crime as well.
The Santa Ana District’s Attorney announced the enhancement in Woodward's charges after finding evidence on his cell phone, laptop, and social media accounts that revealed his hateful intentions. The DA also explained that the evidence included “a large number of texts and images that spew hate at every protected group.” The content was described as very homophobic, misogynistic and antisemitic.
Woodward pleaded not guilty to the charges. Then, several years passed without any movement in the case. Woodward finally went to trial in 2024, during which evidence of his hateful actions and struggles with his own sexuality were revealed.
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The prosecution's case.
The prosecution's case.
During opening statements, District Attorney Jennifer Walker told the jury that the state would present evidence that Samuel Woodward murdered Blaze Bernstein because Blaze was gay. The investigation into Blaze's murder revealed evidence that suggested Woodward's actions were premeditated and motivated by hate. Such evidence was found in Woodward's car, phone, and computer - including text messages between Blaze and Woodward prior to the murder.
The prosecution stated that Woodward had a "shovel-like device", his father's folding knife, and a sleeping bag in his vehicle when he picked Blaze up on the evening of January 2nd, 2018. The folding knife is believed to be the murder weapon. The sleeping bag was later found to have been stained with Blaze's blood.
Text messages between Blaze and Woodward revealed that the two had matched on Tinder in June 2017. Woodward alleged that he was "pranking" when they matched. He later told Blaze that he was still straight, but "I might make an exception for you."
Further evidence from Woodward's phone revealed that Woodward had a habit of reaching out to gay men online and then abruptly cutting off communication. Evidence also showed Woodward's affiliation with homophobic and antisemitic hate groups.
Woodward's defense.
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| Source: Orange County Register |
Samuel Woodward's defense attorneys did not deny that Woodward was responsible for Blaze's death. However, they argued that the murder was not premeditated, nor was it the result of the hate crime. Woodward's attorney stated that he "was conflicted by his own sexuality and acted in a fit of rage."
Woodward himself took the stand during the trial. He admitted to matching with Blaze on a dating app and meeting up on the evening of January 2nd, 2018. Woodward said that he and Blaze were laying in Borrego Park together when Blaze "began to touch him in a sexual manner."
Woodward explained that, at some point, he saw a light on Blaze's phone and was afraid he was sending pictures or videos to others. Woodward said he "felt an anger like he’d never felt in his whole life," and subsequently stabbed Blaze to death.
Woodward's defense attorneys also cited that Woodward had undiagnosed autism which left him "vulnerable to recruitment" of the hate group in which he was affiliated. The defense argued that he joined such a group for a sense of belonging and eventually grew "disillusioned" with their ideals.
The jury.
Due to the fact that Woodward admitted on the stand to stabbing Blaze, the jury was not tasked with determining whether or not he was responsible for Blaze's death. Instead, they were asked to determine whether he was guilty of first-degree murder and a hate crime, as the prosecution suggested; or, if he was guilty of voluntary manslaughter, as his defense suggested.
The jury deliberated for a day before finding Samuel Woodward guilty of first-degree murder and a hate crime in the killing of Blaze Bernstein. The verdict was a relief to Blaze's loved ones and members of the community alike. Blaze's mother spoke to reporters after the verdict, stating, "This is a great relief that justice was served and this despicable human who murdered our son will no longer be a threat to the public."
Woodward was later sentenced in life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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